# NTSB WPR10LA313: De Havilland DHC-1, N6540C, Port Orchard, WA, June 24, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2010, 18:52 local (Jun 24, 2010, 01:52 UTC) - Place: Port Orchard, WA - Coordinates: 47.470001, -122.571388 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4700&lon=-122.5714&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 18, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76430 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA313 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76430/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76430 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA313 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during initial climb due to water contamination in the fuel. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1 CHIPMUNK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=2801704), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1 CHIPMUNK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2801704), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1 CHIPMUNK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2801704), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1 CHIPMUNK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2801704), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1 CHIPMUNK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2801704), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he performed several engine runs prior to departure as the airplane had not flown in approximately 15 months. After departure, and about 400 to 500 feet above the ground, the engine lost power without warning. The pilot initiated a forced landing through tall trees to a heavily vegetated field. The airplane's engine separated from its mount and the empennage was bent approximately 30 degrees to the left. Both wings and the fuselage were bent and wrinkled. The airplane's maintenance records indicated that a conditional inspection had been signed off just before the accident flight. A postaccident examination of the airplane was performed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a mechanic. During the inspection, a mixture of fuel and water was found in an unsumpable gascolator located on the firewall. The owner of the airplane reported that the airplane had been parked outside for several days prior to the accident flight, and during this time it rained heavily in the area. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2010, at 1852 Pacific daylight time, an experimental DeHavilland DHC-1, N6540C, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on takeoff from the Vaughan Ranch Airfield (WN13), Port Orchard, Washington. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot stated that this was the airplane's first flight in approximately 15 months. He performed several engine runs on the ground where a minor problem was identified and fixed. Departure was on runway 20 with a left teardrop turn over the field. The pilot said he was about 400 to 500 feet above the ground when suddenly there was a complete power loss. There was no surging or backfiring. He performed a forced landing through tall trees to a heavily vegetated field. The airplane's engine separated from its mount and the empennage was bent approximately 30 degrees to the left. Both wings and the fuselage were bent and wrinkled. The airplane's maintenance records indicated that a condition inspection had been signed off on June 23, 2010. The records further indicated that the airplane's wings, flaps, ailerons, and empennage had just been covered with new fabric. Additionally, both fuel bladders had been overhauled and reinstalled. A postaccident examination of the airplane was performed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a mechanic. They drained a mixture of fuel and water from an unsumpable gascolator, which was located on the firewall. The owner of the airplane reported that the airplane had been parked outside for several days prior to the accident flight. He further stated that during this time period, there were numerous heavy rains in the area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6540C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6540C-2011-01-14), registration cancelled 2011-01-14, S/N C1/0654 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND DHC-1 - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-1 CHIPMUNK](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-1-chipmunk) (registry code 2801704) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C1/0654 - Airframe hours: 12250 - Engines: Rolls Royce Gipsy Major 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John Geyman - Registered owner: John Geyman - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 23, 2010 - Departed: WN13, Port Orchard, WA - Destination: WN13, Port Orchard, WA - Airport: WN13, Vaughan Ranch Airfield ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 863 total, 536 in this make and model, 831 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: PWT, 8 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100624035729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100624035729A), Jun 24, 2010: Dehavilland DHC-1 CHIPM, Olalla, WA, Destroyed. On June 23, 2010 aircraft departed vaughn ranch airport for a maintenance operational check flight. The pilot stated that he had departed to the south and flew… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76430. 633 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 580 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Owner (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Owner-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.